Bridge project clears hurdle: Faulty traffic gate fixed

PORTSMOUTH — The countdown to the Memorial Bridge opening is beginning in earnest.

Deborah McDermott

PORTSMOUTH — The countdown to the Memorial Bridge opening is beginning in earnest.

The malfunctioning gate that recently plagued the opening of the bridge has been fixed, and final acceptance testing by state transportation officials concluded this weekend, said N.H. Department of Transportation spokesman Bill Boynton.

"We're comfortable that the gates are functioning properly," he said.

One of the gates on the Kittery, Maine, side of the bridge failed to work during compliance testing the weekend of July 27. The manufacturer of the mechanical system repaired the problem by the end of the week, Boynton said.

Operator training is ongoing, he said, and there's a "punch list of items that need to be done."

The N.H. DOT has been saying it is planning a "soft opening" of the bridge, clearing it for vehicular traffic with little advance notice. That is being done at the request of public safety officials, who are concerned about a rush of traffic in Portsmouth and Kittery as soon as the bridge is opened.

Boynton said Monday he doesn't know yet when the bridge will be open to traffic.

An opening ceremony is slated to take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 8. A procession across the bridge will begin at 10:40 a.m. from the Kittery side before the ceremony begins.

Advertise

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
seacoastonline.com ~ 111 New Hampshire Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service